Three Area Residents Among 22 Seeking Seats On State PSC

June 19, 2013

Three areal residents are among 22 applicants challenging two members of the Florida Public Service Commission for their seats at the state’s top regulatory agency.

Commission Chairman Ronald Brise and Commissioner Art Graham have both applied to keep their governor-appointed positions, with competition for the $130,036-a-year positions coming from a wide-ranging list of people with business and government experience.

North Escambia area applications include:

  • Jennifer Reeves, of Pensacola, manager of Ferguson Airport.
  • Martha Hicks, of Milton, a U.S. Navy retiree who is employed by the Escambia County Health Department and is a special-needs shelter consultant.
  • John Bruce, of Gulf Breeze, an independent insurance and financial services contractor.

The most notable name among the challengers is former state House member and short-time PSC commissioner Ken Littlefield.

Littlefield, who spent eight years in the House, was appointed to the PSC by former Gov. Jeb Bush in September 2006 but was replaced shortly after being sworn-in in January 2007 by former Gov. Charlie Crist. Crist contended Littlefield was not consumer-friendly enough.

Several tea party groups unsuccessfully urged Gov. Rick Scott to return Littlefield to the commission last year, imploring the governor to replace Commissioner Lisa Edgar, who faced criticism that she did not adequately represent ratepayers. Scott reappointed Edgar.

Brise and Graham were both appointed to the commission by Crist in July 2010 and reappointed by Scott. Their terms will expire in January.

The deadline to apply for the seats was Tuesday. A nominating council will meet July 24 in Tampa to whittle the applicant list to those deemed “most qualified.”

People on the short list will appear before the council for interviews on August 28 in Orlando. The council will then submit at least six names from which Scott will make the final appointments.

The News Service of Florida contributed to this report.

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Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News